Storyside Church

How healthy is my thought life?Do I let things get to me?Do I let them get in my head? Am I allowing (entertaining) too many toxic thoughts? Genesis 6:5 — The Lord saw that the people on the earth were very evil. He saw that they thought only about evil things all the time. Proverbs 15:26 — The Lord hates evil thoughts, but he is pleased with kind words.Ecclesiastes 9:3 — Of all the things that happen in this life, the worst thing is that all people end life the same way. But it is also very bad that people always think evil and foolish thoughts. And those thoughts lead to death.Romans 121 People knew God, but they did not honor him as God, and they did not thank him. Their ideas were all useless. There was not one good thought left in their foolish minds.26 Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women. 27 In the same way, men stopped having natural sex with women and began wanting each other all the time. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.28 People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do. 29 They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other. They gossip 30 and say evil things about each other. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They don’t obey their parents, 31 they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others. 32 They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them.Ecclesiastes 10:2 — The thoughts of the wise lead them the right way, but the thoughts of the foolish lead them the wrong way.Neurological Pathways If you allow anger and fear to dominate, you will lose the neurological ability to think logically and act compassionately toward others. It is nearly impossible to find peace and serenity if your mind is preoccupied by negative, anxious, or hateful thoughts.Your thoughts clearly affect the neurological functioning of your body.Optimism is essential for maintaining a healthy brain.Positive thoughts neurologically suppress negative thoughts.Watching violence on the news, or taking in a violent movie, will make you feel more angry, aggressive, negative, and powerless. The same thing happens in your brain when you listen to songs with hostile lyrics, even if they are presented in a humorous way. A meta-analytic view of video-game research found that “violent video games increase aggressive behavior in children and young adults.Our brains are designed to mimic the emotional expression of others. This is known as “emotional contagion”. When you see an angry expression, it takes less than one second for your brain to respond with fear.Negative remarks and memories are more strongly encoded in the brain, and they are the most difficult memories to eradicate. Simply being around negative people will make you more prejudiced, because listening to negative opinions can easily undermine your positive opinions about virtually anything. My two cents on Swift. Unsaved in college, I loved Taylor Swift. I knew every word to Red and all the other albums too. Her music is intoxicating bc she’s done a very good job capturing worldly relationships and hookup culture. Now, as a believer– I stay far away from it. Why? Because I will like some of it. It will take my mind places that it shouldn’t go. There will be new lyrics in my head with tunes I can’t shut off with unedifying words on my lips. Hebrews 3:12 — So, brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has the evil thoughts that cause so much doubt that you stop following the living God.Poise in the noise!  Psalm 119:112 — I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.(CEV)Psalm 119:112 — I have resolved to obey your laws forever, at every step.(CJB)Psalm 119:112 — I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.(KJV) 

Isaiah 53:6 — All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.1 Peter 224 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And we are healed because of his wounds. 25 You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.John 1014 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep. Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Have I submitted my life to The Shepherd? Am I fully surrendered to The Shepherd? Sheep are often social animals. Sheep will settle for less. Sheep are not meant to carry weighty burdens or heavy loads. Sheep are not created to stay stationary for too long. Sheep are often reluctant to go where they can not clearly see. Sheep struggle with depth perception. Sheep are often uneasy and skittish in storms. Sheep do not typically like to drink from rapid or turbulent waters. Sheep are considered prey animals and cannot typically defend themselves from predators. Sheep can remember peoples faces and voices. Sheep have excellent hearing. The ShepherdThe Good Shepherd WATCHES over me. The Good Shepherd LEADS me. The Good Shepherd PROTECTS and PROVIDES for me. I am the Good Shepherd. — Jesus  

Why would I want the Holy Spirit?Do I need the Holy Spirit?Have I submitted my life to the Holy Spirit?Acts 14 Being assembled with them, He commanded them, “Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, of which you have heard from Me.5 For John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the dates, which the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”9 When He had spoken these things, while they looked, He was taken up. And a cloud received Him from their sight.10 While they looked intently toward heaven as He ascended, suddenly two men stood by them in white garments. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why stand looking toward heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you to heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, even impossible. There can be no life without the life-giver, no understanding without the Spirit of truth, no fellowship without the unity of the Spirit, no Christlikeness of character apart from His fruit, and no effective witness without His power. As a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead.— John Stott The Holy Spirit TEACHES/COUNSELS us. John 14:26 — But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.The Holy Spirit HELPS us…Romans 8:26-2726 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.The Holy Spirit LEADS/GUIDES us. Galatians 516 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Is the Holy Spirit leading my life? The Holy Spirit BUILDS my faith. Jude 1:20 — But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit.Jude 1:20 — But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in union with the Ruach HaKodesh.

Pith’owmExaiphnēsActs 7:58-59Then they cast him (Stephen) out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”Acts 8:1 — And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 91 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized. Acts 22:16 — What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord. Acts 22:4 — I made trouble for everyone who followed the Lord's Way, and I even had some of them killed. I had others arrested and put in jail. I didn't care if they were men or women.God stops Saul. Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone — except God.God speaks to Saul.Only God can change the heart of someone who is in rebellion against Him. No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God's Spirit prepares the way. — Billy Graham God saves Saul. Can anyone see that Saul isn’t the same person anymore? 1 Corinthians 69 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.We should never underestimate what God can do between one day and the next.

If everything’s important, nothing’s important. If everything’s a priority, nothing’s a priority.— Craig Groeschel   You must have a strategy or a plan.  Keep your goals a priority in your life.  Addition / Subtraction  Calendar / Schedule 62% “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me: and I felt I had something to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”Who we are influenced by really matters. How they influence us really matters. What am I called to influence? Who am I called to influence? Deuteronomy 71 The Lord your God will bring you into the land. You are entering that land to own it. As you go in, he will force out these nations: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These seven nations are stronger than you. 2 The Lord your God will hand these nations over to you. You will defeat them. You must destroy them completely. Do not make a peace treaty with them. Do not show them any mercy. 3 Do not marry any of them. Don’t let your daughters marry their sons. And don’t let your sons marry their daughters. 4 Those people will turn your children away from me. Your children will begin serving other gods. The Lord will be very angry with you. And he will quickly destroy you. 5 This is what you must do to those people: Tear down their altars. Smash their holy stone pillars. Cut down their Asherah idols and burn their idols in the fire. 6 You are holy people. You belong to the Lord your God. He has chosen you from all the people on earth. You are his very own.The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. You are not strong enough on your own. You must ________________________. This radical, complete destruction was important because of the depraved nature of the worship of the Canaanites, who worshipped male and female gods of sex and who presented their children for human sacrifice.Asherah was also the name of the mother goddess of the Canaanite pantheon, the deity responsible for fertility and the productivity of soil, animals, and humankind. Prominent in its services was sacred prostitution involving priests and priestesses who represented the male and female deities. Each generation will reap what the former generation has sown.2 Corinthians 6:14 — Don’t develop partnerships with those who are not followers of Jesus’ teachings. For what real connection can exist between righteousness and rebellion? How can light participate in darkness?Those people will turn your children…If we never have headaches through rebuking our children, we shall have plenty of heartaches when they grow up.— Charles H. SpurgeonThe true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.— G.K. ChestertonWhere does God want to take me?  On my own, I am not enough. We will defeat them.What is a must for me in 2026?I’m fighting for more than just myself. 

What comes to your mind when I say Christmas time?“We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it."Celebrate Christ’s BirthCelebrate Christ’s Death Romans 12:18 — If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. As much as it depends on ME. The Gift of ServingPhilippians 2:4 — Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.Romans 12:13 — When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.1 Peter 4:10 — God has shown you his grace in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever gift he has given you in a way that will best serve each other.The Gift of Presence 6 Days / Month 70 Days / Annually Places don’t matter to people any more. Places aren't the point. People are only ever half present where they are these days. They always have at least one foot in the great digital nowhere.The Gift of GraceThe Gift of FlexibilityHold your plans loosely so you can hold people tightly. The Gift of ForgivenessMark 11:25 — And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.Colossians 3:12 — Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Colossians 3 — So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.The GIFT of SERVINGThe GIFT of PRESENCE The GIFT of GRACE The GIFT of FLEXIBILITY The GIFT of FORGIVENESS 

Ephesians 5:19-20Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Always Thankful We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary. — Dietrich BonhoefferGratitude is the memory of the heart. We give thanks not because life is easy, but because God is good.The world is full of God’s wonders, but only the grateful see them.— G.K. ChestertonThanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer.— John WesleyThere is always, always, always something to be thankful for.— Ralph Waldo EmersonPhilippians 4:4 — Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.Philippians 4:4 — Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!Always Rejoice(Joy) 2 Corinthians 9:8 — And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.Always Generous “When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.” Earn all you can. Save all you canGive all you can.Luke 18:1 — One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.Always Pray Never Give Up Acts 24:16 — So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.Acts 24:16 — And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men.Always Clear (Offense) People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.— John Wesley Towards God Towards Men Matthew 11:6 — And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.It’s a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher. — George Whitefield Diapontos — Constantly/Continual Be Slow To Anger — James 1:19 Overlook Offense — Proverbs 19:11 Keep No Record Of Wrongs — I Corinthians 13:5 Forbear/Forgive — Colossians 3:13 The Benefit Of The Doubt — Luke 23 Surreal how many folks are hunting for things to be offended by. How about we start a "benefit of the doubt" movement?— Author Scott Sauls 1 Corinthians 15:58 — So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.Always Give Yourself Fully 10 Minutes Always ThankfulAlways RejoiceAlways GenerousAlways PrayerfulAlways Clear (Offense) Always Fully Following

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 28:19-20So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.Psalm 139 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.Broken Places Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.Psalm 34:18 — If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.Empty Places 1 Kings 19:3-4 When Elijah heard this, he was afraid. So he ran away to save his life. He took his servant with him, and they went to Beersheba in Judah. Then Elijah left his servant in Beersheba and walked for a whole day into the desert. Then he sat down under a bush and asked to die. He said, “I have had enough, Lord! Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors.”Unworthy PlacesLuke 15:17-19The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat. I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’Impossible PlacesLuke 1:37 — For nothing will be impossible with God.We have a God who delights in impossibilities.— Billy Sunday Intimidating PlacesDaniel 313 King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. So he sent for the three young men and said, 14 “I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up. 15 Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don't, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me.”16 The three men replied, “Your Majesty, we don't need to defend ourselves. 17 The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. 18 But even if he doesn't, we still won't worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.”Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste and spoke and said unto his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.The best of all is, God is with us.— John Wesley 

“I’m thankful for — The Church”The Church is a place where broken people find a perfect Savior.Matthew 16:18-19And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.1 Timothy 3:14-15I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.Mathew 18:20 — Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.Acts 2:44-46All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever was in need. Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God.Acts 4:31 — And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.1 Corinthians 11:18 — For, in the first place, when you come together as a church…1 Corinthians 11:20 — When you come together…1 Corinthians 11:23 — So then, my brothers, when you come together…1 Corinthians 14:23 — If, therefore, the whole church comes together…1 Corinthians 14:26 — What then, brothers? When you come together…Acts 14:27 — When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.Acts 15:30 — So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.Ephesians 5:19 — When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.Colossians 3:16 — Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and strengthen each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.Hebrews 10 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.Let Us — The Presence Of God The presence of God is the central fact of Christianity. At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push in to conscious awareness of His presence.— A.W. Tozer To be in the presence of God is to be where we were created to be.— R.C. Sproul The presence of God is the sweetest treasure we can know on earth.— John Piper Nearness to God brings likeness to God. The more you see God, the more of God will be seen in you.— Charles Spurgeon You’ll get through this. Not because you’re strong, but because God’s presence is stronger than your storm.— Max Lucado There is nothing impossible when you are in the presence of God.— Smith Wigglesworth Let Us — Hold Tight / Hold Fast Colossians 2:6-7You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.Let Us — Love / Good Works Let Us — Assemble / Meet The Church is the dearest place on earth. If I had never joined a church till I found one that was perfect, I would never have joined one at all.— Charles Spurgeon 

The Gift Of GodJohn 3:16 — For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Ephesians 2:8-9 — God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.Matthew 1:21 — She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.The Gift Of Salvation ChataHamartiaJames 4:17 — So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.Proverbs 5:21-23The Lord clearly sees everything you do. He watches where you go. The sins of the wicked will trap them. Those sins will be like ropes holding them back. Evil people will die because they refuse to be disciplined. They will be trapped by their own desires.Isaiah 59:2 — It is your sins that separate you from your God. He turns away from you when he sees them.SeparationRomans 3:23 — For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.ShortcomingJohn 8:34 — Jesus said, The truth is, everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin.Sin’s Slavery James 1:15 — When a person is carried away with desire, lured by lust, and when desire becomes the focus and takes control, it gives birth to sin. When sin becomes fully grown, it produces death.John 8:24 — I told you that you would die in your sins. Yes, if you don’t believe that I Am, you will die in your sins. The sin of today is the sorrow of tomorrow.— Billy Sunday Sin is a deadly thing; it is worse than poverty, worse than disease, worse than any worldly misfortune. Sin may promise pleasure, but it delivers only pain and regret. All sin is a desertion of God. Every sin is a turning away from God and a running after something else instead of Him.— Charles Spurgeon Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.— Billy Graham Romans 5:8 — But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 10:8 — For salvation that comes from trusting Christ, which is what we preach— is already within easy reach of each of us; in fact, it is as near as our own hearts and mouths. Acts 4:12 — Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him!1 John 1:8-9 — If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.Romans 10:9-10 — If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.2 Corinthians 5:17 — When anyone belongs to Christ, they become a new person. Their old way of life has gone. Their new life has begun!Colossians 120 It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him—all things in heaven and on earth—for Christ’s death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. Celebrated Cracks The Golden Repair 

We are ALL givers. There are two great days in a person’s life — the day we are born and the day we discover why. Am I generous with my time?  Am I generous with my words?Am I generous with my talents?Am I generous with my finances?  Am I generous with grace/forgiveness?  Standard of LivingStandard of Giving Proverbs 11:25 —The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  Am I generous with my time?  You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!— Catherine Booth Co-Founder Salvation Army Am I generous with my (life-giving) words?Ephesians 4:29 — Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.Caring  Compliment Courageous Communication Proverbs 12:25 — Worry takes away your joy, but a kind word makes you happy.Am I generous with my talents?1 Peter 4:10 — God has helped each of you in a certain way. Think carefully about how to use that gift from God well. Remember that God has given many different gifts to his people so that they can help each other.Am I generous with my finances?  A faith that hasn’t reached your wallet probably hasn’t reached your heart.— Adrian Rogers Matthew 6:24 — No one can be a slave to two masters. He will hate one master and love the other. Or he will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. So you cannot serve God and money at the same time.1 Timothy 6:10 — For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.It’s never enough. My feelings fluctuate with my finances. My mood is tied to my money. I’m sensitive about the subject. I only ask for God’s help in crisis or when I’m in a financial dilemma. I don’t include Him in my financial decisions, donations, and overall financial direction. I can’t keep consistency in my giving. I don’t have joy when it comes to my giving. Matthew 6:33 — The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.Proverbs 3:9 — Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. We are wealthy. Does God get my first and best? Luke 1215 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”What is my first thought when it comes to my finances? The foolishness was not necessarily that he had accumulated wealth, it’s that he didn’t know why he had wealth. “The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?’”— Andrew Murray The rich man ran out of time before he ran out of money. Am I generous with grace? Am I generous with my forgiveness?  Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.God was so generous with His grace in my life. Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.— Author Philip Yancey God answers the mess of life with one word: grace.— Author Max Lucado I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be; but I am not what I once was, and by the grace of God I am what I am.— Songwriter John Newton (Amazing Grace) Am I generous with my time?  Am I generous with my words?Am I generous with my talents?Am I generous with my finances?  Am I generous with grace/forgiveness? 

Luke 10 25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” 26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you understand from it?” 27 The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’” 28 Jesus said, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have eternal life.” 29 But the man wanted to show that the way he was living was right. So he said to Jesus, “But who is my neighbor?” 30 To answer this question, Jesus said, “A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Some robbers surrounded him, tore off his clothes, and beat him. Then they left him lying there on the ground almost dead. 31 “It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he did not stop to help him. He walked away. 32 Next, a Levite came near. He saw the hurt man, but he went around him. He would not stop to help him either. He just walked away. 33 “Then a Samaritan man traveled down that road. He came to the place where the hurt man was lying. He saw the man and felt very sorry for him. 34 The Samaritan went to him and poured olive oil and wine on his wounds. Then he covered the man’s wounds with cloth. The Samaritan had a donkey. He put the hurt man on his donkey, and he took him to an inn. There he cared for him. 35 The next day, the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the man who worked at the inn. He said, ‘Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.’” 36 Then Jesus said, “Which one of these three men do you think was really a neighbor to the man who was hurt by the robbers?” 37 The teacher of the law answered, “The one who helped him.” Jesus said, “Then you go and do the same.”The RoadWhat are the most dangerous (damaging) roads that you have travelled in your life? The ResponseYou can no more pray effectively and hate your neighbor than you can walk north and south at the same time. You may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.— William Wilberforce“The first question the priest and Levite asked was, ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’”The Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’”The Reasons The Good Samaritan Experiment A. You have plenty of time, and you are early.B. You are on-time, but you should head over now so as not to be late.C. You are running late, and you really need to go.The Good Samaritan Experiment 63% of participants in the “you are early” category stopped to help the stranger.45% of participants in the “you are on-time” category stopped to help the stranger.10% of participants in the “you are late” high hurry category stopped to help the stranger. Hurry overrides our moral values. Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.We are so busy chasing the extraordinary that we forget to notice the ordinary.The key to success is not in doing more, but in doing what matters most.If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.— Corrie ten BoomWhat are my reasons for not stopping?Christ’s love is a costly, serving, healing love that reaches into the deepest wounds and darkest places.— Tim Keller The Robbers — What’s yours is mine. The Priest/Levite — I’ll keep mine. The Samaritan — What’s mine is yours. Author John MaxwellMatthew 9:36 — When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 1 John 3:18 — Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.God help me to SEE, STOP, and SERVE the people in my path this week.

What In The World? Matthew 5 13 You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. 15-16 Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.You are…Light of the World Your Light Where has God positioned me to shine?Where is the darkness dominating?Does my light make a difference? The light of Jesus penetrates every shadow, offering hope and salvation to all who believe.— C.H. SpurgeonPhilippians 2 14-15 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, 16 holding out to them the Word of Life. Then when Christ returns, how glad I will be that my work among you was so worthwhile. Salt serves a bigger purpose than itself. We all have a ME Monster. Philippians 2:3-4 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.James 3:14-16But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.PalatableColossians 4:5-6Be wise when you engage with those outside the faith community; make the most of every moment and every encounter. When you speak the word, speak it gracefully (as if seasoned with salt), so you will know how to respond to everyone rightly.Preservation In what areas of my _______________________ am I preserving Godly values?Purification Psalm 147:3 — He heals the broken hearted, and he binds up their wounds.It is often in our brokenness that God does His best work. — Max Lucado Brokenness is a doorway that opens us up to God’s deepest work.— Brennan ManningThe broken heart is the altar upon which God offers His healing.— Timothy Keller 

1 Peter 5:88 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:3-43 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:3-4 (NIV)3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.Ephesians 6:10-1110 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.1 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:88 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.BE ALERTAM I ALERT?AM I WATCHING?Ephesians 6:12-1812 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,The Belt of TruthJohn‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬-‭47‬44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." ‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."The Breastplate of Righteousness1 Peter 2:24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.Romans 5:19For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.Shoes for your feet - Readiness from the Gospel of PeaceThe Shield of FaithThe Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God1 Be Alert2 Put on the Whole Armor of God3 Stand FirmHebrews 10:39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

1 Corinthians 1311 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.How am I spiritually growing?CJB — But for now, three things last — trust, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love.ESV — So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.NLT — Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.FAITHThe Greek term often translated as “faith” (pistis) implies belief, trust, and fidelity. Biblical faith is a trusting reliance on the God revealed in Scripture, evidenced by obedience that springs not from fear, but from confidence in Him. It is well-rooted in both the historical record of God’s works and the transforming power of His Word.Biblically, faith is not “blind.” It includes reasoned confidence in God’s Word and actions throughout history. Scripture portrays faith as an active reliance upon God, anchored in divine revelation and confirmed by changed lives, miracles, and historical testimonies.Romans 10:17 — Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.2 Corinthians 5:7 — We walk by faith, not by sight.James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.Faith doesn't always know where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. — Oswald Chambers When it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority.— A.W. Tozer Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.— Corrie ten BoomHOPEBecause of Jesus, we can have a hope that is not based on circumstances but rooted in the character of God.— Tim Keller Hebrews 6:19(a) — This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.Hope means hoping when things are hopeless. — G.K.Chesterton Disappointment is inevitable. But to become discouraged, there’s a choice I make. God would never discourage me. He always guides me to Himself, so I choose hope.— Charles StanleyRelying on God has to begin all over again every day. — C.S. Lewis Hope has a thick skin and will endure many a blow. It will keep it alive, even when reason and sense would faint.— John Bunyan Even in those terrifying conditions, the miners refused to give up hope.“Estamos bien en el refugio los 33.”Their story is one of endurance, unity, and above all — hope that would not die.LOVE1 John 4:8 — God is love. John 13:35 — In this way, everyone will know that you are my disciples. They will know it, if you really love each other.1 John 4:7 — Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better."Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father." Never worry about numbers. Help one at a time, and start with those nearest you. — Mother Teresa Romans 838 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Faith Hope Love 

What is the Holy Spirit stirring in me?1 Samuel 17:29 — David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”Revival is not churches filled with people, but people filled with the Holy Spirit.We might as well try to hear without ears or breathe without lungs, as to try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in our hearts. — D.L. Moody A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.— Charles Finney Ephesians 3:16-17 — I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. With the Holy Spirit, we have everything we need to face anything that comes.How important was the Spirit to Jesus?John 14:16-17 Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. Acts 1:4 — While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.How important was the Holy Spirit to the early church?Acts 1:8 — But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.Acts 21 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.Acts 2:38-39Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away, all who have been called by the Lord our God. Acts 5:32 — We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.Acts 11:12(a) — The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. Acts 11:28 — One of these men was called Agabus. The Holy Spirit gave him a message from God. He stood up and he said to the people there, ‘Soon people will be very hungry all over the world because there will be no food.’ (That happened when Claudius ruled the Roman world.)Acts 13:4 — So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.Acts 15:28(a) — The Holy Spirit has shown us what we should do. We also think that this is the right thing to do.Acts 16:6-7Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.Acts 20:23 — I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.Acts 20:28 — So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood — over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.Romans 8:14 — For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.Romans 8:26-27Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit is a Person. He can be grieved. He can be quenched. He can be obeyed. He can be followed. — A.W. Tozer How do I respond to the Holy Spirit? Acts 2:12 — Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, “What does all this mean?” Am I curious to know/want more? Acts 2:13 — Others made fun of the Lord's followers and said, “They are drunk.”Do I mock (make fun of) the Holy Spirit?Acts 7:51 — You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.Do I fight against the Holy Spirit? 1 Thessalonians 5:19 — Quench not the Spirit.Do I quench the Holy Spirit? Ephesians 4:29-32Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Do I grieve the Holy Spirit?Matthew 12:31 — So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and everything they say against God. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Do I speak against the Holy Spirit? Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.— Corrie ten Boom How will the Holy Spirit help me?He will help me to be Christ-like. He will empower me. (Luke 24)He will teach me. (John 14) He will comfort me. (John 14)He will convict me. (John 16) He guides me to truth. (John 16)He will help me to fight my flesh. (Galatians 5)He will help me to share my faith. (Acts 1)He will help me to pray God’s will. (Romans 8)What is the Holy Spirit stirring in me? Ephesians 6:18 — Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer Every evil act tends to harden man’s heart, that is, to make him more evil.— C.S. LewisRomans 12:21 — Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Genesis 1:1 — In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Hebrews 11:3 — We believe in God, so that is how we know that God made the world by his word. The things we see were made out of things that cannot be seen.Psalm 14:1 — Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!GodNo God Godly Ungodly With GodWithout GodLife without God is like an unsharpened pencil – it has no point.— Billy Graham Genesis 31 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”2 Timothy 31 Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. 2 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious; 3 they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good; 4 they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; 5 they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.We’re living in an unprecedented day (when) evil is no longer evil. We’ve changed the terminology — iniquity is now infirmity; wickedness is now weakness; devilry is now deficiency.— Leonard Ravenhill Romans 124 People wanted only to do evil. So God left them and let them go their sinful way. And so they became completely immoral and used their bodies in shameful ways with each other.25 They traded the truth of God for a lie. They bowed down and worshiped the things God made instead of worshiping the God who made those things. He is the one who should be praised forever. Amen.26 Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women. 27 In the same way, men stopped having natural sex with women and began wanting each other all the time. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.28 People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do. 29 They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other. They gossip 30 and say evil things about each other. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They don’t obey their parents, 31 they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others. 32 They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them.Genesis 6The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.Proverbs 8:13 — The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.Ephesians 6:12 — For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Romans 12:9 — Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.1 Thessalonians 5:22 — Abstain from every form of evil.1 Timothy 6:10 — For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.Romans 12:21 — Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.We The People (Rights) Be The People (Responsibilities) Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.— Martin Luther King Jr The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. — Martin Luther King Jr Psalm 23:4 — Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Psalm 119:133 — Guide me, as you promised. Don’t let evil rule over me.Matthew 6:13 — And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.2 Timothy 312 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted; 13 and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves. 14 But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, 15 and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.As for me…Continue Firmly Believe Holy Scriptures 

Colossians 2:7 — Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.We were never meant to just visit God’s presence — we were meant to be planted in His presence. Mark 43 “Listen! And take note: A sower went out to sow.4 As he sowed, some seed fell beside the path, and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and soon it sprang up because it did not have deep soil. 6 But when the sun rose, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seed fell on good ground, and it yielded grain that sprang up and increased by thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.”14 The sower sows the word.15 These are those beside the path, where the word is sown. But when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word which is sown in their hearts.16 Others, likewise, are seed sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness,17 but have no root in themselves, and so endure for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution rises for the word’s sake, immediately they fall away.18 And others are seed sown among thorns, the ones who hear the word.19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.20 Still others are seed sown on good ground, those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit: thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.”I want to be rooted. Roots aren’t very visible but they are very valuable. A strong tree typically survives storms not because of its branches, but because of its roots. The Chinese BambooThe PandoThe RedwoodsThe Banyan Tree The MangrovesMangroves take in extra oxygen and remove salt, allowing them to tolerate conditions that kill most plants.The Olive TreesWild Fig Trees The Shepherd’s TreeThis tree can survive in harsh conditions and dry climates. It sends roots deep down to reach water no other plants access.The Tamarisk TreeGenesis 21:33 — Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.Its root system is highly developed, with deep roots that allow it to access groundwater and withstand prolonged droughts.The Baobabs 31,700 Gallons Planted people don’t panic — Planted people persevere.Mark 4:20 — Still others are seed sown on good ground, those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit: thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.

Luke 5:11 — And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.We must FORSAKE and FOLLOW. All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all. Revelation ResponseRejectionReception RepentanceRemovalRevival Acts 19 10 This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.11 God worked powerful miracles by the hands of Paul. 12 So handkerchiefs or aprons he had touched were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists invoked the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you to come out in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 There were seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was jumped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.17 This became known to all Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. And fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many who believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them before everyone. They calculated their value, which equaled fifty thousand drachmas.20 So the word of the Lord powerfully grew and spread.Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the pulpit, I would desire to die preaching repentance, and if out of the pulpit I would desire to die practicing it.— Matthew HenryI will kill you if you ever come near me again. Jesus loves you Nicky.We must know Jesus for ourselves. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 — When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs. Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. CameConfessedBroughtBurned1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.People who cover their faults and excuse themselves do not have a repentant spirit.— Watchman Nee The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.— Martin Luther Proverbs 28:13 — Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.Ephesians 4:31 — Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Colossians 3:8 — But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.James 4:8 — Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.Hebrews 12:1 — Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. What needs thrown off/away in my life? We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road. The man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.— C.S. Lewis I surrender all to Jesus Christ. Acts 19:20 — So the word of the Lord powerfully grew and spread.